The KSI Huddle Podcast with Coach Ian King: Recent Episodes
Coach Ian King : teaching the world how to train
Most PTs work in one location, a suburb within their hometown, at best they may get to a regional or national conference on occasion. So how did this former suburban PT get to take three international trips in a little over 12 months? What drove him to do this? What did he do to facilitate this happening? And how does he maintain a violable business back home with this much time on the road as an international traveller?
Learn the answers to these questions in this podcast!
If you are inspired to have these experiences, you can learn a lot from the coach in this chat.
Because up until just over 12 months ago this young NZ-born, Australian-based PT Liam Keats had not travelled further than over the ‘ditch’ from NZ to Australia.
How do I know this? Because when he joined us in August 2023 in Park City, UT, USA, he asked to join the same flight I took from Australia as I did. I could sense the trepidation. And that’s fine, we all have that same uneasiness when we go on our first international trip.
12 months later, in Aug 2024, he repeated the same trip to the KSI Annual Camp in Park City, UT, USA – this time there was less fear in his eyes. How do I know – because he once again joined my flight.
And just a month or so later, he put his hand up for a trip to the UK for a KSI Camp, via Singapore. On the flight he told me he wasn’t coming straight home – rather he would go on and explore other countries in Europe. I was impressed! He had gained so much confidence that he was going off by himself to new countries, on short notice.
I was so impressed with Liam’s commitment to his professional and cultural development through international travel that I started an Instagram travel diary with him. To his credit when he left the UK to travel on to his next European destination, he continued on his daily IG gravel diary. In fact, he did a much better job of it than I was, not that that would be difficult!
So, if you are ready to get inspired by what is possible, check out this story as it unfolds in this recording! I’m impressed, and I’m sure you will be too!
Matic Bevar, like many of his colleagues, chose to study sports science at university because of his love of sports.
After graduating Matic went to work in a local fitness facility in his rural hometown in Slovenia. Perhaps like many of his colleagues, he was not sure if what he learnt in class totally prepared him for the practical application of working with clients, and the obligation to help them achieve their goals. He felt he could do better for his clients.
A challenge within his own training also had Matic realise that no one was providing him with the answers he was looking for.
This strong sense of ‘something is missing’ drove him to search for better answers in training. KSI was one of many sources he considered, but something must have made sense because he chose to sign up for the KSI Level 0 Coaching Course in December 2021.
Two years later Matic has built up his KSI educational library and is ready to take on Level 3 in the KSI Coaching Program. He feels that he is far better equipped now to serve and help his clients.
In this chat, Matic shares his journey and lessons from his professional journey, living in Slovenia and practical application of physical preparation.
Born in Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud (New Zealand), before moving to Australia, Liam started his working life as what is affectionally referred to as a ‘tradie’ (tradesman). Liam’s love of training, especially boxing, drew him to a career change.
Liam has spent several years working in boxing gyms, and now runs his own on the Gold Coast of Australia called ‘Caliber Boxing’.
Liam started his KSI journey in Jan 2019, with the KSI Coaching Program Level 0 Course. A month later he started in Level 1. It was May 2022 before he took the next step into Level 2. In January 2023, four years after his first exposure, Liam started the Level 3 Course, and in August 2024 he attended his first KSI Annual Camp in the US of A where he participated in the Level 4 Course.
At the end of 2023, Liam applied for and was accepted into the ‘Level 5 Class of 2024’.
In this chat, Liam shares his journey and lessons about life, boxing and physical preparation.
After graduating from college with a double major in Film and Anthropology, Tom left his home state of Pennsylvania to fulfill a dream of living and working in Los Angeles. Before he knew it he was living the dream, just like Kid Rock’s ‘Tennessee Mountain Top’ song…
Palm trees and beautiful hips Man it doesn’t get any better than this
…until he wasn’t.
Just like the character in Kid Rock’s song, he wanted to different outcome than the life and the person he was becoming, so he did what many do post the advent of the ‘personal trainer’ – he switched career paths from Hollywood to the gym!
His love of training had started many years earlier. As with many teenage males in the US, Tom loved playing sport and also took up strength training in the basement of his family home, using his dads weight training equipment and programs from magazines such as Muscle & Fitness and books by Arnold Schwarzenegger
To get started as a PT Tom started out with a big chain gym and a short certification course. A few years later he progressed to being a partner in a small personal training studio.
He had a nagging feeling that there had to be a better way to provide his services and create a balanced life. This search led him to KSI. His first up-close and personal exposure was at a seminar in Santa Monica in about 2010 with Coach Ian King.
In 2015 Tom decided to up his game with KSI and was accepted into the mid-level of the KSI Coaching Program. Some 8 years later, Tom is in the ‘final straight’, having recently qualified at Level 9. He is tangibly close to graduating from the KSI Coaching Program and receiving the holistic rewards that come along with this level of advancement.
In this chat with Tom Legath, who recently achieved Level 9 within the KSI Coaching Program, shares his journey and lessons about life, Hollywood and physical preparation.
Ten years ago almost to the day a young athlete by the name of Heather Burridge was brought to see me by her parents, seeking guidance to overcome a chronic injury. At that time Heather was pursuing throws in track & field and netball.
During the next few years working with Heather, I noticed this athlete had an x-factor, like the stereotypical female warrior. As a result, she earned the title of ‘The Goddess’.
After leaving school Heather commenced an engineering degree at university. However, it wasn’t long before her yearning to use her physicality took her on another path. True to her warrior traits, Heather courageously changed paths and went on to follow her own path of stunt work for movies. She has established herself in the industry and her credits are impressive and growing.
Bio – https://www.stuntbookaustralia.com.au/member-profile-details.php?sba_member=647
Showreel – https://youtu.be/l1I5o3ZrKlI
We’ve asked her to take time out to chat with her journey and the impact working with KSI has had in the fulfillment of her passion and potential.
You will learn:
- That as with every athlete and sport, stunt acting has its risk.
- As with team sports stunt actors really rely on their team for their safety and the outcome of their stunts.
- The mental challenges that come with stunt acting e.g. allowing yourself to be set on fire!
- What it takes to break into stunt acting.
- How each stunt acting brings a different skill set to their craft.
- How much training and rehearsal go into a stunt.
- The injury risks o training and performing stunt acting.
- And much more~
Join us as we learn about and celebrate Heather pursuing her passion and finding her niche in stunt acting!
I was training athletes to run, swim, cycle, row, ski, skate and so on, faster! And we achieved these goals but at the same time a strange thing was happening. They were getting buffed! Not in a Mr Universe way, but in a way that got the attention of lots of people. And they were not even doing strength training all year round.
I knew that there was something going on – that getting buffed was easy, or at least a lot easier than many had been led to believe!
So, in 1999, 23 years ago I took a leap of faith and produced a book called Get Buffed! ™ It was a summary of the training concepts and methods I had developed and used with athletes over the prior 19 years. Despite not having a large interest in hypertrophy for hypertrophy’s sake, I had got feedback about the effectiveness of these training methods for getting bigger, stronger, and leaner.
They worked! I knew that – now it was time for the world to learn it!
I didn’t realize how disruptive the new ideas would be to the world. Of course, they all seen ‘normal’ now, but believe me, telling someone that chin ups without rows were not a balanced approach to ‘back’ training, or that a single joint exercise such as RDLs was not a balanced approach for the posterior chain as squats were to the quad dominant group!
We can look back now and laugh at this, but it was a strong message just how ‘different’ the Get Buffed! ™ was to the industry. And nothing’s changed – it’s just as effective now as it was back then, as trend after trend since 1999 has continued to lead the masses down the proverbial garden path.
For those who value the message contained in the now 18 products Get Buffed! ™ range (including the only true 4 book sequel in this genre) I have prepared a podcast to give you some back story on the origin and intent of the Get Buffed! ™ educational range!
I talk about the origins and influences of the concepts, right back to the 1960s! Come on this journey with me to understand how and why the Get Buffed! ™ journey began and where it is going in the future!
Enjoy the podcast!
Lee ‘Doc’ Docherty is a KSI Coach currently studying Level 2 who has been involved in the game of soccer his whole life, playing and coaching at various levels throughout the world. Upon leaving the British Army, Doc has dedicated himself to coaching soccer players of all ages, helping players reach their fullest potential both on and off the field. Doc founded UKSD as a way to not only bring soccer to all players regardless of race, gender, and socio-economic circumstances, but to use the game to help teach life skills to each participant, while developing leadership traits and creating opportunities for young people to become actively engaged within their own communities, and others around the world, through community service and social issue education.
In addition to his work with UKSD, Doc is the head coach of the Barnstable high school girls varsity soccer team, where he also works as a health and wellness teacher. Doc also works with youth, teen, and collegiate athletes across Cape Cod and the South Shore area as a physical preparation and performance coach.
This is what Doc has said about his KSI Coach education journey:
The course was really eye opening; the content was quality and really got me thinking. I have been in the ‘fitness’ world for around 20 years in many different facets and have completed lots of educational courses within that time, none have matched the sheer amount of content and overall in depth explanation of the why’s, what’s, and how’s. There is plenty to walk away from to think about, process, and reflect upon.
I am really loving the in-depth approach to the principles and system that you use when designing programs. In all of the years I have been in the ‘fitness’ world and education courses I have taken, I don’t think that I have ever seen anything really geared towards the athlete as an individual. I have guilty of getting caught in the trends and bullshit at times but have seen how the majority of things are just noise, and don’t any consideration into the long-term health and overall development of the individual athlete. In my opinion, the lack of understanding and all out ‘hoorah’ in the US when it comes to physical training (the bigger and stronger is better) is hurting young people across the board. Hopefully I can help prevent that in the kids I work with!! Quality stuff!
The focus on flexibility and its overall benefits to overall joint health and injury prevention was great insight. The lack of flexibility implementation within training is pretty much non-existent and doing any flexibility is frowned upon, especially within the world of soccer, where dynamic stretching is the only acceptable way! Since adopting pre-activity stretching routines and trying to implement full sessions to flexibility instead of ‘conditioning’ sessions (which has been firsthand ridiculed by other coaches) has received both great feedback from players and overall improved performance and a lessened rate of injuries.
And the lines of movement system continues to amaze me when looking at ways to try and help develop a more balanced training program. It really helps to have the ability to look at flaws that could ultimately lead to imbalances and injuries.
The course was brilliant, loved the content and the whole philosophy. Lots to process and reflect on. Really positive experience and excited to learn more!”
Carrie Sheinberg was a technical skier who competed at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics in slalom. She was named to the US Ski Team when she was 17-years-old and stayed on the team for eight years. Sheinberg won US titles in combined in 1995 and in slalom and giant slalom in 1997. She later attended the University of Utah and became a sports reporter. She worked for several years as a producer for ESPN Radio and also for Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
Carrie met Ian King in the mid 1990s during camps with the Canadian National Ski Team and took up the opportunity to work with Ian, which including hands on work in the US, Canada and Australia. Post career Carrie also worked with the late KSI Coach Mike Pimentel when she was based in Boston.
Carrie is now residing in Park City and has been a guest speaker at the KSI Annual Training Camps in Park City a number of times, and Ian has also been able to guide Carrie through the challenges of being a sporting mum.
When pain becomes your teacher with physical preparation coach Keith Minikus
Keith is a physical preparation coach based in Texas USA with a long history of strength sports training – football, powerlifting and Olympic lifting. Over time Keith developed some series injuries that were threatening this ability to continue what he loved to do, train. Frustrated by not being able to find solutions, Keith stumbled upon the KSI Coaching Program and begun to get quick results in injury rehab. Ironic as it was back in about 2001 when Keith first read an Ian King article but was put off by the suggestion that loading was overrated, and that even bodyweight exercises could suffice in some situations. Now Keith is excited to continue his journey with KSI and continue to share his learning with his clients.
Paul Briggs is a fighter whose career took into to the top in two disciplines – Muay Thai kickboxing (2 time World Champion) and boxing (fought twice for a World Title). His combined Fight record of 109F (97W 2D 10L and 56 KO’s) makes him one f the most successful fighters to come out of Australia.
Paul has chosen to take that same drive for excellence into his role as a boxing coach. The discussions recorded in this podcast will serve any coach who is truly committed to helping their athlete fulfill their potential, with a focus on how to manipulate training outcomes using the concept of continuums in training stimulus, long term planning of training, and much more.
In the late 1990s, Jason was first exposed to Ian King’s writing. Then in 2000, at the annual SWIS Convention, Jason was live in Ian’s presentation and enjoyed some in-person exchanges during that event.
Jason then went off on a journey of self-discovery, moving through experiences in the physical preparation industry and allied professions.
Now, some 20 plus years later, Jason journey has brought him back to KSI, in the KSI Coach education program. Jason has moved quickly through the first three levels of the program – L0, 1 and 2, and plans to attend Level3 and 4 in August 2012 when it is next offered.
In this chat learn what brought Jason back to KSI, and what his two-plus decades in this industry has taught him.
Psychological transfer from training to sports performance – how, when and why
with dual champion combat athlete, Paul Briggs
Paul Briggs is a former 2 times Muay Thai World Champion and fought twice for the WBC Light Heavyweight World Championship crown.
Now retired from fighting Paul is focused on sharing his experiences with other fighters through his boxing gym ‘The Art of Boxing’ on the Gold Coast, Australia. Amongst his many reflections are what lessons he can take from the way physical and sport-specific training was used to prepare him mentally for competition.
In this podcast we go deep on this discussion, highlighting key points to consider as coaches and athletes make training decisions aimed at developing psychological traits.
In Australia the name Brian Kerle is synonymous with basketball. Here are a few reasons why –
Represented Australian in basketball including the 1972 Olympics
Assistant coach Australian team
2nd on all time NBL Championships won as coach (4)
2nd (Equal) on all time Grand Finals Games as coach (12)
3rd on all times NBL Games coached (456)
3rd on all time NBL Games won as coach (282)
2nd on all time NBL final four appearances as coach (8)
NBL Hall of Fame (2006)
Qld Basketball Hall of Fame (2018)
..to name a few….
Brian’s work in basketball is not over. From a young man who left home to travel interstate to pursue his dream, to now, Brian continues to serve basketball. Brian now runs the Brian Kerle Basketball Academy and teaches all over the fine state of Queensland.
Few have given so much and been so blessed with results as Brian Kerle!
Henk Kraaijenhof has several decades of experience as a performance coach in a broad array of sports.
He has worked with the following athletes: Nelli Coorman, former world record holder and 60m World Champion (1987-1989); Merlene Ottey, 100m and 200m; Sandra Farmer-Patrick, 400m hurdles; Letitia Vriesde of Surlaname, 800m (1:56.65 in 1995); Mohammed Aj-Malki of Oman, 400m (44.65 in 1988); Patrick Stevens of Belgium, 200m; and Troy Douglas, 100m-400m. Kraaijenhof’s experience extends to conditioning as well, having worked with Mary Pierce (2004) and soccer player Edgar Davis.
He was a conditioning consultant for the Netherlands Olympic men’s volleyball team (2000). Olympic men’s field hockey team (2008), Oman Sal, Juventus Football Club (1997-1998), Vancouver Canucks (2011), and UKAthletics. He has also worked as a mental conditioning consultant for BBE, an elite unit of the Dutch Marines Corps.
Kraaijenhof has collaborated with Prof. Carmello Bosco on the development of the first vertical vibration platform 1998 in Dr. Marco Pozzo and the development of the first intelligent strength training machine Exentrix.
20 years ago the bodybuilding community got its first taste of Get Buffed!™ when a series of programs were published in the online magazine t-mag.com (as it was known then).
“Ian King has gained a great deal of popularity amidst the hard-working and smart-working core of bodybuilders who want a more complete understanding of the “why” and “how come” beneath the surface of muscle building. He gives the student of weight training insight into every practical question he or she would ever ask about getting bigger, stronger and leaner: how to determine the true training effect of working out; how to gauge how long, how often, how many exercises, sets and reps and in what order; training duration, speed and cadence of reps, fatigue and recovery.
Like stacking forty-five pound plates on an Olympic bar, The King goes on and on
teaching truths and expelling doubts. “Get Buffed” is a muscle builder’s reliable fact reference.”
–Dave Draper, The Blond Bomber
The first one to hit the screens around the world was the ‘Limping Program’, followed by the matching upper body program.
Those who were around in 1999 have very vivid memories of ‘real pain’ in their bodies from these programs!
This podcast is dedicated to exploring what was and still is unique about the Get Buffed!™ programs, and how they are not only as relevant as they were two decades ago, perhaps even more relevant!
Steve Oliver was trained by Master Rickson Gracie (9th Degree) & Marcello Rezende (4th Degree). He holds a Black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has more than 20 years of experience in BJJ with a further 11 years of boxing experience. Not to mention over 10 years of power lifting and over 4 years wrestling experience.
Steve is Head Ground coach for the notorious UFC and PRIDE sensation Mark Hunt. Mark Hunt is a New Zealand mixed martial artist and former kick boxer of Samoan descent, currently living in Sydney, Australia. Hunt competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is known for his raw strength, iron chin and knockout power! Hunt has been toeing the line with the best fighters on the planet for the last 13 years with Steve in his corner.
In this podcast Ian King chats with Eric Chessen, founder of Autism Fitness. The mission for Autism Fitness as a business is to provide not just fitness programs, but effective and reliable fitness programs for every individual with autism and related disabilities. Autism Fitness also serves as a bridge between the professional fitness and autism communities (families, educators, and therapists). The business also provides the Autism Fitness Toolbox and the Autism Fitness Certified Practitioner program. Learn more in this podcast!
Cathy's powerlifting career started when she was 14 years old, and wanted to improve her tennis & heard that the top girls in her age group were weight training. By the time she was 16 years old, she had accumulated Open NZ & Commonwealth Records and represented NZ in her first Women’s World Championships (no Juniors back then).
At 24 she won her first Open World Championships breaking her first World Record in the Squat of 230kgs. Grahame Fong was her coach and was instrumental in helping her achieve greatness in Power Lifting until she retired in 1994, with 5 World Championships and many records to her name! Including a notation in the ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ for 11 consecutive WR’s spread out over 3 weight classes!
Cathy is arguably the most accomplished female powerlifter to come out New Zealand!
Paul Briggs is a fighter whose career took into to the top in two disciplines – Muay Thai kickboxing (2 time World Champion) and boxing (fought twice for a World Title). His combined Fight record of 109F (97W 2D 10L and 56KO’s) makes him one f the most successful fighters to come out of Australia. Learn the wisdom he has collected along the way in this chat!
Jon Jon Park grew up the son of legendary bodybuilder Reg Park. Jon Jon represented Britain in swimming in the men's 100 metre butterfly at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Join us to learn about Jon Jon's personal experiences as an athlete and his insights into the ways of his famous dad, the late Reg Park, and other insights into the modern history of bodybuilding!
In this podcast we chat with Canadian researcher, practitioner and educator Victoria Felkar (MA, BKIN). She is a respected leader within the industry for her innovative and integrative approaches to health and performance. As an interdisciplinary researcher and instructor, she works across the fields of kinesiology, medicine, sport medicine, critical studies and the humanities. Victoria is currently completing doctoral studies at the University of British Columbia, with a focus on female hormone manipulation within sport and medicine. In this podcast we cover a range of topics including training history (e.g. the origins of kettlebell training) and the specific needs of the female athlete.
During his Olympic career and after, Andre made a commitment to expand his knowledge in physical training. After his University degree in Physical Education he continued to expand his knowledge by attending seminars doing internships and working alongside some of the world’s most renowned coaches such as Charles Poliquin and Paul Check. He now is the Co Founder and Head course conductor and education provider for the Canadian Center for Strength & Conditioning (CCSC) based out of Calgary, Canada. http://www.ccsccalgary.com/
Athlete's Direction is a non-profit foundation based out of Massachusetts USA providing financial assistance to student athletes through training program scholarships, competition sponsorships, or equipment provisions. It is our mission to help dedicated student athletes reach their fullest potential. In this chat we speak with founders and Board Members Phil Smith and Leo Paulding about this organization. Doing amazing things for athletes who need some financial support. Learn more and contribute at http://www.athletesdirection.org/
During our peak annual event, the only time all our top level coaches come together each year, we are involved in some phenomenal professional development experiences.One of these are our round-circle discussions that we call our ‘Huddles’. This Part 1 of a 3 part audio series gives you insights into the minds of our coaches from all levels as they absorb heir experiences doing the week of the 2018 camp!
During our peak annual event, the only time all our top level coaches come together each year, we are involved in some phenomenal professional development experiences.One of these are our round-circle discussions that we call our ‘Huddles’. This Part 1 of a 3 part audio series gives you insights into the minds of our coaches from all levels as they absorb heir experiences doing the week of the 2018 camp!
During our peak annual event, the only time all our top level coaches come together each year, we are involved in some phenomenal professional development experiences.One of these are our round-circle discussions that we call our ‘Huddles’. This Part 1 of a 3 part audio series gives you insights into the minds of our coaches from all levels as they absorb heir experiences doing the week of the 2018 camp!
In this podcast we chat with US powerlifting legend, strength coach and founder of Spot Athletics - JL Holdsworth. With a BA in Exercise Science from Wayne State, Masters work at University of Kentucky in Coaching, a USAW Level-1 coaching certificate and well over 20,000 hours of practical experience, JL Holdsworth is one of the most respected strength coaches in the industry. As a competitive powerlifter, he has posted a 905 pound squat, 775 pound bench press, and 804 pound deadlift. He has also competed in mixed martial arts and grip competition. Holdsworth is the owner The Spot Athletics, where he works with athletes of all ages and sports discipline.
In the physical preparation industry you often hear reference to a person ‘living the dream’. Is this real, or marketing ploy to attract more into the industry? Are all or most physical preparation coaches ‘living the dream’? And what does ‘living the dream’ mean anyway?
We all face ‘frustration’s’ in the work place. For a physical preparation coach (as well as many other service consultants) some of this frustration can come from the realization that many people do not agree with what you believe in, despite the fact that you are a ‘professional’.
Ken is a Canadian chiropractor and the founder of the Society of Weight-Training Injury Specialists (SWIS) which is focused on the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of weight-training injuries.
The mission of SWIS is to "bring therapeutic professionals and professional weight lifting trainers together. The goal is to create a win-win-win relationship between the doctor/therapist, the trainer, and the client. SWIS is focused on creating a “bridge” for the doctors/therapists and the gym trainers. This allows each profession to do the best work they can.”
Todd Wilkins joined the US Military at the age of 17 years and training has played a been big part of his life. Some are happy to just train; others want to know the ‘why’ of training. Todd is one of those with a thirst to know why.
Ten years ago as part of his search for answers, he reviewed all the strength training books in two local libraries and settled on the Book of Muscle, in which he found effective programs. This led him to seek out Ian King and KSI.
Fast forward 10 years Todd’s search for knowledge has led him to complete the KSI Level O course and to continue on his path of learning through KSI!
As a dad Todd is also driven by a desire to lead his kids to optimal training that serves their lives, not detracts from it.
You can learn a lot about training – speed, strength, endurance, plyometrics, optimal long term development for the young athlete – and much more from listening to this huddle between Todd W and Ian King!
Muscle tears are another strength training related injury that have increased substantially during my four decades in coaching to what I would describe as almost epidemic. At this rate it will be the odd-person who has not had one. Yet that are for the most part an injury of choice.
After learning that US former American college football player and KSI Coach Justin Green had become another victim of this injury I reached out to him and he agreed to share the lessons of his situation with others keen to learn my perspective on this injury.
We reviewed his sporting history, the conditions existent in the lead up to the surgery, the analysis of the injury and the subsequent surgery, his recovery, and the future of his bicep training. So many lessons!
Huddle #30 - The KSI way, the future of the industry and much more - Chat with Darren Manser, Australian Naturopath, Acupuncturist and Kinesiologist